Required fields are marked *. Those jumbled layers were then channeled and carved by swift running streams, over the course of many hundreds of thousands of years. Ceremonial Cave Ruins, Running Antelope House Ruins, and White House Ruins on a halfday tour (3 hours or so) You also get professional and expert rock art intrepetation at Kokopelli's Cave, Petroglyphs Rock, and Ute Raid Panels With a stay at Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly, an IHG Hotel in Chinle, you'll be in a national park, just a 4-minute walk from Canyon De Chelly National Monument and 14 minutes by foot from Hatathali Museum. Canyon de Chelly is a fairyland of unlikely rock formations, filled with ancient ruins and petroglyphs spanning 5,000 years of human history. Some went back to New Mexico, some to De Chelly, some joined the Apache or Navajo, some stayed. The trip exceeds 32 miles. Learn how your comment data is processed. CafePress brings your passions to life with the perfect item for every occasion. 3. Managed by Navajo Parks and Recreation Department. The day we entered Canyon de Chelly, in mid-May, water, lots of it, was flowing through the canyon. This wall is covered in lines of black, red, white, and grey created by the summer rains spilling down the wall to create this patina called canyon varnish. Archaeological evidence indicates that this giant amphitheater consisting of two caves was occupied for 1,000 years, from A.D. 300 to 1300. . of the park brochure is also available. They shared this shady space with other images that were obviously much older. There are circles, the Anasazi representation of the life cycle and yellow dancers. I recommend Adam Teller at Antelope House Tours at www.canyondechelly.net/. Blossoms by the Billions: Photographing the Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C. Photographing the Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial, Canadian Road Trips: Jasper and the Icefields Parkway, Washington D.C., By the Dawns Early Light, An Overabundance of Bowlers: A Brief History of the Headgear on the High Plateau, Tairona Gold: The Curse of the Coiled Serpent. You can also hire a Navajo guide at the visitor center to take you into the canyon on a 4x4, horseback, or hiking tour. Why? Ancient ruins sit under rocky roofs along the sheer walls in places called Junction Ruins, Mummy Cave, Ledge ruins and Massacre Cave. Come check out our giant selection of T-Shirts, Mugs, Tote Bags, Stickers and More. 5 Ceremonial Cave. We stopped to admire Kokopelli Cave that had numerous petroglyphs and I recognized many from Adams previous descriptions. Read our Planning Your Visit guide for details on how to visit the park. A word to the wise when booking a tour: the private tours are more expensive, but well worth the additional cost. The basic Jeep tours, which are the most popular, range from three to six hours in length, and cover most of the highlights. The Grand Canyon has been carved, over millions of years, as the Colorado River cuts through the Colorado Plateau. I was at Tsegi Overlook taking in one of the classic views of Canyon de Chelly. This year, we had more than 15 inches of snow. Standing cow ruins are named for another painting by Little Lamb. Canyon de Chelly National Monument Length: 0.1 mi Est. This allowed the buckskin to taken without any holes and cured for a ceremony. Here's a short video clip of his two throws. The sites were also chosen to protect from rain, wind and snow, and to take advantage of sun in the winter and shade in the summer. To the left was the north fork of the canyon, Canyon del Muerto, and to the right, the south fork, Canyon de Chelly itself. Viewing Spider Rock from below provides a dramatically different perspective on this extraordinary formation. The canyon continues to preserve the ruins of ancient indigenous tribes that inhabited the area long ago (from the Ancestral Pueblo to the Navajo). Seven miles from the Welcome Center is the turnoff to the Antelope House Overlook, which is two miles further along a paved access road. In fact, they migrated. It is and continues to be a place the Dina revere and consider their last stronghold. At White House Ruins, history whispers from the ancient cliff dwellings that once housed approximately 100 people. Canyon de Chelly Ruins located in Canyon de Chelly National Monument: Awatovi: Navajo County: Ruins Bailey Ruin: Pinedale, Arizona: Ruins of a multistoried pueblo of 200-250 rooms, AD 1275-1325 (late Pueblo III Era and/or early Pueblo IV Era). This remote place has an inexplicable allure because it hosted generations Travelling hummingbirds 'Our way of life is unacceptable to the Hopis,' they said. I can guarantee youll consider it time well spent! There is more useful information to help plan your visit, including basic information, directions, and operating hours for the park. Both roads are paved and are open year-round. Other useful information includes safety, accessibility, fees & passes and permits & reservations. If you want to explore any further, youll either need to take a ranger-led hike or hire a Navajo guide. Adams grandfather is credited with naming it because he carved the name Navajo in the rocky walls of the fortress at least according to the Coyote Clan stories. There's nothing like a good road trip. A pair of binoculars would come in handy to truly appreciate the ruins from this distance. Even a quick three-hour tour will take you past Kokopelli Cave and First Ruin and get you into parts of Canyon del Muerto. But you can still approximate the experience by booking a spot with one of the Navajo tour operators. Two roads, Indian Route 7, and Indian Route 64 diverge at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The one in yellow is the shaman. Daniel said they also used pine pitch. Marker is located within Canyon de Chelly National Monument, at Massacre Cave Overlook. Dont see exactly what you were looking for? The Anasazi inhabited the area some thousands of years ago. It is the only National Monument that still allow Native American to live and have property within its boundaries. They mean so much more when described to you by a descendant of the people who made them. The cave was occupied until about 1300 when Puebloan life in Canyon de Chelly abruptly ended. The park is located in Chinle, Arizona, and is entirely on Navajo tribal lands with families living in the canyon. That would never have been allowed today, but at the time, before the National Monument was established, there werent any rules against it, so Sylvias great grandfather was simply being practical, using what was available. Adam told me that the Dina believe recent DNA analysis prove his people had Anasazi ancestors. You can find a guide online at Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation or the parks visitor center. Daniel took 10 of us on an open-air, six-wheel-drive vehicle that would splash, grind and slide its way through the flowing water, mud and quicksand of the canyon floor. This hotel is 4.6 mi (7.5 km) from Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility and 6.1 mi (9.9 km) from White House Overlook and Trail. About 200 Navajos died of starvation and exposure along the way. Both sides of Daniels family have lived in the canyon for three generations, growing corn and tending orchards of apple, peach, pear and plum. He said people often come to the canyon to meditate. The Navajo people still have a mystical bond to this redstone canyon that cuts an almost tropical path of trees and flowers through the desert. We hope you enjoy your visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument! Native people have lived here for nearly 5000 years. The Cave itself is 70 below the top of the cliff. At the beginning of our trip, we asked Sylvia to show us her favorite petroglyphs, along with the usual ruins and rock formations, and she did not disappoint. It is named for the white plaster that coated the long back wall. From above, youre looking down on the whole tableau, and Spider Rock, shorter than the soaring canyon walls, appears as one small part of the larger scene. No Pets Allowed in the Park. The twin pillars of Spider Rock, like two gigantic fingers thrusting out of the earth, pointed toward the sky. Route 7 follows the South Rim of the multi-pronged formation, providing access to seven overlooks, all with killer views into Canyon de Chelly. 1 campground in Canyon De Chelly National Monument. That, in combination with the beautiful setting, is a very powerful draw. There are dogs and turkeys, which the Anasazi domesticated. Our stop at the Teller family property called Antelope House for a lunch of Navajo flatbread and soup cooked by Adams sister allowed me sit and view the nearby ruins. Permits issued by Navajo Park Recreation Department, must be signed by group leader and guide. A pictograph of Spanish conquistadors, note the red cape and cross, memorialize their massacre of 115 Navajos. The sprawling Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona is full of the ruins and rock art of the ancient Ancestral Puebloans. There were hunters, deer, birds, handprints, and more. The numerous figures on the cave wall were more ominous than other sites with stick figures wearing horns to represent Shaman, medicine men, or dark red figures to represent the ancient ones and others that looked like evil spirits. Mummy Cave sits much further down the canyon and is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the monument. Canyon de Chelly has been consistently inhabited for the past 5,000 years, which is longer than any other location in the Colorado Plateau. Basic three hour tour includes Antelope House Ruin in Canyon Del Muerto and the White House Ruin in Canyon de Chelly. Help Center. Up on the cliff face, they were protected from predators and enemies. $4.99. There are also 3 motels with dining and gift shops. Canyon De Chelly is Located on the Navajo Reservation. The visitor center and several overlooksMassacre Cave Overlook on North Rim Drive, Tsegi, Junction, White House, and Spider Rock overlooks on South Rim Driveare accessible. Daniel whoops to show us how his voice echoes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth against the canyon walls. If you can, hire a guide before you visit, especially if you plan to go during the peak months, March through October. The Kokopelli figure is the rain dancer. This was how some of the numerous petroglyphs were described by Navajo guide and storyteller Adam Teller of the Coyote Clan. The interior of Canyon de Chelly is beautiful, but the view from the rim is just as stunning. The canyon is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, and is a popular destination for hikers and campers. The only trail open to the public is White House Trail. We felt quite privileged to be there with someone who was so directly connected to all of it. The Kokopelli figure is the rain dancer." This was how some of the numerous petroglyphs were described by Navajo guide and storyteller Adam Teller of the Coyote Clan. Navajo Nation Park and Recreation Department: Charges a $8 fee, per person, and per day. The South Rim drive is a 36 mile round trip, from the Welcome Center to the Spider Rock Overlook and back again, making multiple stops in between. Tours begin when the permit is signed and ends when group is out of Canyon de Chelly. Canyon de Chelly: Part 1: The Rim Drives Most of Canyon de Chelly can only be seen by visitors who are accompanied by an authorized guide, but the Rim Drives are free of charge, no reservation required. Posted by ITKT Featured Writer | Jun 17, 2022 | ITKT Blogs, North America, Spotlight, United States | 2, White House Ruins, Canyon de Chelly 2018 Jim Chamberlain. Youll need a couple of hours to do it justice, depending on how much time you spend at each of the different overlooks. Located on the North Rim Drive in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, this site contains an Anasazi cliff dwelling that was once occupied over a thousand years ago. Collections; Project #ShowUs; Creative Insights; EDITORIAL; VIDEO. Interpreting a Rock Ledge of Petroglyphs 2018 Jim Chamberlain. Closest to the visitor center, it is the only one in the park accessible without a guide. 8 White House Ruin in Canyon De Chelly. All of the guides working for those companies are Navajos with family ties to the Canyon, and I think its safe to say that they all have great stories to tell! Daniel shows us petroglyphs (images made by chipping away the desert varnish caused by minerals on the canyon walls) and pictographs (images painted on the rock). Route 64 follows the North Rim, and provides access to three more overlooks, with excellent views into the branch known as Canyon del Muerto. If you drift off a path you are likely to run into someone's yard, or . Packages are also available, combining a guided hike with an overnight stay in a Hogan, for example. Please check your time. At Chinle, turn east onto IR 7. Looking for the ideal Arizona Canyon De Chelly Charms Gifts? Most tour companies offer 4x4 tours, guided hikes, and overnight camping. 3 First Ruin. There is Kokopelli, the priest or god of fertility, lying on his back, playing his flute. The vantage point offers a fabulous panorama of the Canyon, along with an unobstructed view of the White House, one of the best preserved ruins in the National Monument. The canyon itself, including all hiking trails and Jeep tracks, all the ruins and the rock art, in essence, anything below the canyon rim, all of that is private property, off limits to everyone save the handful of Navajo families who own the land on the canyon floor. Let me teach how I have traveled the world for FREE! But I like to keep it simple, cook over the fire, keep it pitch black, no lights.. Kokopelli Cave is a beautiful canyon located in the heart of the American Southwest. The best rock art in the canyon is located on private land but Adam was able to get us special permission to visit Spring Canyon. One has a cross on the front of his serape probably depicting a Catholic padre. From the Visitors Center, bear right at the fork to stay on Indian Route 7, the South Rim Drive, and follow the signs to the overlooks. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Occupied for a thousand years, from around 300 A.D. until 1300 A.D. Since most of the park is inaccessible without a tour guide, this is a perfect way for the public to enjoy the splendorous views. For an introduction to off-roading, Canyon de Chelly National Monument (official website) near Chinl, Arizona, offers baby boomers easy to moderate driving challenges in a scenic setting.But you are not allowed to explore independently. Your email address will not be published. The White House Ruin trail is the only one you can hike without a guide. For more ITKT travel stories about USA These were painted by Navajo artist Dibe Yazhi, or Little Lamb, in the 1830s. Pictographs on the canyon wall show handprints, stick figures and Kokopelli lying on his back playing his flute. Most travelers have limited time, so once theyve seen the Big One, why would any of them bother going all that extra distance just to check out little old Canyon de Chelly? I come out of the canyon refreshed. At 800 feet in height, its a good bit taller than your average 50 story sky scraper, and it completely dominates the landscape. The reddish orange Navajo sandstone walls soar 800 feet above the sandy canyon floor. Along the way you pass the Ledge Ruin, Antelope House Ruin, Navajo Fortress, and Standing Cow Ruin, along with some extraordinary rock art. The expense might be an issue, especially for a family, but the larger problem is limited availability, especially these days, in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic. Adam pointed out the drawings of Spanish conquistadors on the canyon wall at another site. Cities. Taking the advantage while the men were away they attacked the remaining of the Navajo people of that tribe. That drive requires another hour and a half, bare minimum, so if youre going to do both, you should play it safe, and set aside half a day. The haunting notes of a flute player nearby made the experience of visiting these ruins more spiritual that just viewing the canyon from the viewpoints. One pictograph shows two men on horseback running down a deer. Riding a horse down cottonwood-shaded trails is a great way to experience the quiet calm of Canyon de Chelly. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area; Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park; Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park; Canyon de Chelly National Monument; Capulin Volcano National Monument; Carlsbad Caverns National Park; . For over 5,000 years indigenous people have farmed, raised sheep, and lived in Canyon De Chelly. The Best Way to Experience the Canyon This tour is a total distance of 24 miles on the canyon floor in a private Jeep or SUV with a guide. We will then continue on to: Petroglyph Rock First Ruins Junction Ruins From there we will go to the South Canyon and visit White House Ruins (Restrooms available and vendors are selling jewelry, arts and crafts) Canyon de Chelly Tours is an 100% Din-owned business. It was named for two mummies that were discovered here by an archaeological expedition in 1882. The ruins left by the Anazazi were built high off the ground, often a 60-to-70-foot climb, higher now because the canyon bottom is much lower. She boils and eats bad little kids. The Navajo Nation observes Daylight Savings Time; the rest of Arizona (except for some other tribal lands) does not.